In the new alliance they have a pic of gnarley harley in a ferrari - does anyone know if this kid really has this car or if it's a friends, dad's, something?? Didn't he just get a liscence? Not bad for a first car!

Rob, what are you talking about? He spelled one word wrong (liscence vs license) which is a pretty commonly misspelled word. It's not like this is English class, it's an online discussion forum. Slang terms like "kinda" or "dam (which was most likely used because most curse words get **** out)" is not a huge deal. How do you deal with text messages, facebook, twitter, other forums etc if that small of a spelleeng ehroar bothurrs u?

Parks has had a few rides over the years, but I think he still has the Benz and i know the old Lifed Durango is still around as well.
Danny im not sure anymore. Running around Orlando Ive seen some. Grubb has a insane murdered out Suburban, Shane has some sick ones too. But the all time has to go to Gator for sure for showing up to a contest in a Ferari or a Lambo. I cant remember which.
As far as the comment about a lot of wake guys coming from money....its about 50/50. I agree that it takes money to get into the sport. Especially the boat side of it. Riders like Soven(s), Harf, Gator, and many others do come from very comfortable back grounds. Riders like the Bonifays, JD Webb, ect. But that doesnt mean anything. Look at Byerly. He was swinging a hammer for a while when he was younger and now look at him. There are many riders that are insane and hold down night jobs to live the lifestyle.
I agree that a lot of kids, for lack of a better term have had things "handed" to them, but that doesnt take away from pure raw tallent.

hey I can assure you guys Harley does not come from a wealthy family, and as a family we have had to make sacrifices for Harley to get to where he is today.
It has been a tough road for Harley , we didnt have the big flash boats, we dont live on a lake, we live 30 minutes from the river so i started work at 2 am in the morning so I could get all of my work done and be home in time to take Harley and his brothers down to the river to ride of an afternoon.
Harley learnt to wake board behind an old moomba boat mid mount, thats all we could afford, and all the boats up until Mastercraft started sponsoring him were all second hand boats.

I love hearing stories like yours Bill. There's an element to Harley that's humble, which I appreciate. The more obstacles it takes to get you to the top the less you take it for granted. Not that there's anything wrong with supporting your kids with as much as possible. But Harley obviously has had to work real hard to get where he is today. Well now he's at the top and the more he continues to work just as hard as always, the further he'll push the sport.

As a son who came from a family who wasn't real well off when we were young but supported us kids, I want to thank you Bill. You do what you can for your kids and push them to do their best. Doesn't matter what income bracket you fall into. I hope to be a parent like that some day.

I know Harley really appreciates all that his family has done for him and his career. Our reward is seeing him realise his dreams, and not only with Harley also his brothers Ty and Ethan, who by the way are really good at cable and dont really ride boat a great deal at all.
I know proud dad syndrome.
I miss my son a great deal now he lives in Orlando 7 months of the year

Pro riders bust their a$$e$. It's nice to see some of them getting paid. Most people don't realize how much travel and events these guys do. It's not all boats full of girls and big contest payoff's (though the mags may make it look like that).

Pro riders bust their a$$e$. It's nice to see some of them getting paid. Most people don't realize how much travel and events these guys do. It's not all boats full of girls and big contest payoff's (though the mags may make it look like that).

Dont get me wrong, they work hard... but Im not, for one second, going to feel sorry for the amount of travel/events they do, or any other work that comes with being a pro.

Glad to see Harley's hard work paying off, and props to you Bill for the sacrifices you and yours made to get him to the top.

Dont get me wrong, they work hard... but Im not, for one second, going to feel sorry for the amount of travel/events they do, or any other work that comes with being a pro.

Glad to see Harley's hard work paying off, and props to you Bill for the sacrifices you and yours made to get him to the top.

exactly! It takes a lot of effort and work and hours these folks put in but to be able to travel and have the life of a pro is not something that normal folks will feel "sorry" about. They get to go to places that most people will never get to (and very often), while we sit in an office/at a desk 8-10 hrs. a day...Or some variation thereof for the various types of careers...

We all make choices and have different goals..Being a pro wakeboarder is definitely not the "norm", just like a pro "anything..

exactly! It takes a lot of effort and work and hours these folks put in but to be able to travel and have the life of a pro is not something that normal folks will feel "sorry" about. They get to go to places that most people will never get to (and very often), while we sit in an office/at a desk 8-10 hrs. a day...Or some variation thereof for the various types of careers...

We all make choices and have different goals..Being a pro wakeboarder is definitely not the "norm", just like a pro "anything..

This is very true... regardless what kind of cars they drive look at what they do for life ... its like a constant field trip for these guys .. sheez I could drive a old beated up honda or something ( this is an 81 honda HOW DARE YOU! ) hahah and do what they do rather then have a super car and work 8 hours a day in a office setting... I think im just going to fricken step up my game lol I have been wakeboarding for about 10 years now and its funny how these pros get to there level in 2 - 3 .. Time to grow some ball this summer

Many of them will read this post and think "if you only knew the half of it!"

I sat down with two of the industry's top pro riders about a month ago and talked about this.

Try traveling every week, month after month, and year after year, living out of a suit case, eating on the fly, up at 5AM for photoshoots and expected to ride at your best, sitting at boat shows and dealer events - bored out of your mind, not seeing your wife/kids/family for weeks at a time, returning home for a day or two just to leave again, racking up personal expenses for travel, worrying about how you will make money 5 years from now when the next Harley comes out of no where and moves you one more spot down in the ranks.

I'm sure it's cool when you're young and single for the first few years. Pretty sure it's anything but a field trip htough. They don't get to relax at home on the weekends like you and I, aside from maybe a little time at the end of the season. But when the winter comes, you're on the road again promoting your line, your sponsors, ect...

J rod I couldnt agree more with anything you have said, but in some of our eyes these guys and girls are living the dream .. like mine but then again im a 20 year old single kid who would love the opportunity to travel the world and get recognition for something I was good at and have a rep and sponsors and be able to have a boat sponsor and all the perks that would come out of such an opportunity, these guys obviously chose this life style so there must be some great coming out of it, maybe because they love what they do!

J rod I couldnt agree more with anything you have said, but in some of our eyes these guys and girls are living the dream .. like mine but then again im a 20 year old single kid who would love the opportunity to travel the world and get recognition for something I was good at and have a rep and sponsors and be able to have a boat sponsor and all the perks that would come out of such an opportunity, these guys obviously chose this life style so there must be some great coming out of it, maybe because they love what they do!

Its' only a dream because you're 18 and don't have a wife and kids. When you're 28, married, a couple toddlers at home and all you want to do is be with your family - the last thing you want to do is be on the road and sitting alone in another hotel room.

Anyone who travels for work knows this. I know it very well unfortunately. It sounds great and it's a ton of fun for about 4 trips. Then the next 20 are absolutely brutal.

The grass isn't always greener. Yes, these guys get to "wakeboard" for a living but there is WAY more to it than just getting up and riding on your home lake, shooting some quick vids and taking a nap.

Its' only a dream because you're 18 and don't have a wife and kids. When you're 28, married, a couple toddlers at home and all you want to do is be with your family - the last thing you want to do is be on the road and sitting alone in another hotel room.

Anyone who travels for work knows this. I know it very well unfortunately. It sounds great and it's a ton of fun for about 4 trips. Then the next 20 are absolutely brutal.

The grass isn't always greener. Yes, these guys get to "wakeboard" for a living but there is WAY more to it than just getting up and riding on your home lake, shooting some quick vids and taking a nap.

Not 18 , 20 and I could understand that, but once again, there choosing this lifestyle so there must be something they enjoy out of it.

Not 18 , 20 and I could understand that, but once again, there choosing this lifestyle so there must be something they enjoy out of it.

exactly. Which is why I dont fell sorry or hold a soft spot in my heart for any sacrifices they "have to" make... like traveling the world, or God forbid sitting at a boat show all day... oh the treachery!

They choose this lifestyle and profession- travel and the inherent risk of one day not being able to ride for a living is part of it...this wasn't a surprise and shouldnt be when it happens.
Having a family and being a traveling pro would be too difficult for me. I'd need to be young and single and hopefully have a plan for when I cant ride professionally anymore.

Dude if it's really his, you know I am happy for him , that kid is taking wakeboarding to another level he deserves it... If it was just some kid thinking he was hot shiz and stuff then id tell him to take it up the cramhole leflour ( hahahah ) but dude thats awesome, I think it also depends how he acts in person if he is like one of the nice guys and non cocky like almost all the pros are and is very open and stuff thats awesome and reading the posts from his dad it sounds like he a responsible kid and fun loving of the sport.. plus dude talk about macro points with the chicks now jesus.. its inspiring to me but instead of any super car I would want some old american muscle ... Chevy ill take anything between 67-69 camaro thanks guys!